As reported by nj.com, under pressure to regain control of the issues in Trenton, Democratic sources said Tuesday that legislators plan to introduce their own budget next week that will include money for police departments and property tax relief for the elderly.

The plan to reshape Governor Chris Christie’s $29.6 billion budget is emerging with time running out before the June 30 deadline and as Democratic leaders break from rank-and-file members on a plan to overhaul benefits for public employees. The legislation sharply raises the cost to employees for health and pension benefits, and will deliver a political victory for Governor Christie. The legislation was approved by the Senate on Monday and awaits a final Assembly vote Thursday.

Looking toward passage of the budget, which was delayed as lawmakers fought over the benefits plan, Democrats will propose reviving a program cut by Christie last year that provides property tax relief to residents 65 and older who earn less than $80,000 a year, the sources said. They also plan to seek financial relief for police departments stung by layoffs while experiencing an increase in crime, like Newark. The amount to be allocated is still under discussion. “That is a priority for Democrats,” said Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, adding that the money would go to departments “where there have been real challenges.” 

When asked whether Democrats planned to introduce their own budget or nibble around the edges of Christie’s. Oliver said, “I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag.”

State Sen. Paul Sarlo, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said Democrats were “developing a list of priorities” and that his committee would consider the “total package” on Monday. The Assembly may hear the bill on the same day. 

A spokesman for the governor, Kevin Roberts, said Christie has fulfilled his obligation by submitting a balanced budget and will review the budget when lawmakers sent it to him for his signature. Christie had pledged to triple property tax rebates for residents already receiving them if lawmakers overhauled health and pension benefits. It was not clear whether the Democrat proposal takes into account the governor’s commitment.

Tags: Articles, budget, Christie, Democrats, Oliver
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Photo of Donald C. Barbati Donald C. Barbati

Donald C. Barbati is a shareholder of Crivelli, Barbati & DeRose, L.L.C. His primary practice revolves around the representation of numerous public employee labor unions in various capacities to include contract negotiation, unfair labor practice litigation, contract grievance arbitration, and other diverse issues…

Donald C. Barbati is a shareholder of Crivelli, Barbati & DeRose, L.L.C. His primary practice revolves around the representation of numerous public employee labor unions in various capacities to include contract negotiation, unfair labor practice litigation, contract grievance arbitration, and other diverse issues litigated before the courts and administrative tribunals throughout the State of New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Barbati also routinely represents individuals in various types of public pension appeals, real estate transactions, and general litigation matters. He is a frequent contributor to the New Jersey Public Safety Officers Law Blog, a free legal publication designed to keep New Jersey public safety officers up-to-date and informed about legal issues pertinent to their profession. During his years of practice, Mr. Barbati has established a reputation for achieving favorable results for his clients in a cost-efficient manner.

Mr. Barbati has also handled numerous novel legal issues while representing New Jersey Public Safety Officers. Most notably, he served as lead counsel for the Appellants in the published case In re Rodriguez, 423 N.J. Super. 440 (App. Div. 2011). In that case, Mr. Barbati successfully argued on behalf of the Appellants, thereby overturning the Attorney General’s denial of counsel to two prison guards in a civil rights suit arising from an inmate assault. In the process, the Court clarified the standard to be utilized by the Attorney General in assessing whether a public employee is entitled to legal representation and mandated that reliance must be placed on up-to-date information.

Prior to becoming a practicing attorney, Mr. Barbati served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Linda R. Feinberg, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage. During his clerkship Mr. Barbati handled numerous complex and novel substantive and procedural issues arising from complaints in lieu of prerogative writs, orders to show cause, and motion practice. These include appeals from decisions by planning and zoning boards and local government bodies, bidding challenges under the Local Public Contract Law, Open Public Records Act requests, the taking of private property under the eminent domain statute, and election law disputes. In addition, Mr. Barbati, as a certified mediator, mediated many small claims disputes in the Special Civil Part.

Mr. Barbati received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, magna cum laude, from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Upon graduating, Mr. Barbati attended Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2007, he received his juris doctorate, magna cum laude, graduating in the top five percent of his class. During law school, Mr. Barbati interned for the Honorable Joseph E. Irenas, Senior United States District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey in Camden, New Jersey, assisting on various constitutional, employment, and Third Circuit Court of Appeals litigation, including numerous civil rights, social security, and immigration cases.

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